Earlier this month, Oregon joined nine other states in meeting a goal to get 3.3 million electric vehicles on the road by 2025. That number is set to grow under a rule that requires all new passenger cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks sold in Oregon to either be fully electric or plug-in hybrid electric by 2035.
But adopting cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles also means that Oregon and other states are grappling with reduced revenues from gas taxes. Electric vehicle owners also don’t pay any gas tax, which has led states like Oregon to explore launching programs that charge motorists a fee based on how much they travel instead of how often they refuel.
In 2015, Oregon became the first state in the nation to launch a voluntary, pay-by-mile program for motorists. Roughly 800 people are currently enrolled in OReGO, which charges participants 2 cents for every mile driven in the state.
Joining us to talk about the OReGO program is Travis Brouwer, assistant director for revenue, finance and compliance at the Oregon Department of Transportation.
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